1. Investigation of Multiphase Flow Behavior in Horizontal Gas Wells
Rosmer Brito

2. Outline Objective Introduction Literature Review Study Plan
Small Scale Facility
Experimental Range
Testing Program
Instrumentation
Near Future Tasks

3. Objectives
Investigation of Multiphase Flow Characteristics for Horizontal Oil and Gas Wells
Experimentally Using a Small Scale Facility (2-in. ID)
Theoretically by Developing a Mechanistic Liquid Loading Criterion
Investigate Effects of Wells Geometry and Trajectory
Development of a Predictive Software Tool

4. United States Shale Gas Plays
Introduction
United States Shale Gas Plays

5. U.S. natural gas production, 1990-2035 (trillion cubic feet)
Introduction …
U.S. natural gas production, (trillion cubic feet)

6. Hydraulic Fracture in Horizontal Wells

7. Water Production In Horizontal Gas Wells
80% Water Used for Hydraulic Fracture Spreads in the Reservoir After Flow Back
Below/Above Water Formations
Fractures extends to Water Bearing Layers
Continues Water Production

8. Horizontal Section in Gas Wells
Liquid Loading Occurs When
Gas Production Declines
Associated Liquids are not Lifted
Intermittent or No Gas Production
HL in the Horizontal Section
Impair Production Before Loading is Evident
Slug Flow from Horizontal Wellbore to Tubing
Liquid Loading is Affected by Well Deviation
CSU/SPE

9. Literature Review Turner (1969)
Water Production Affects Flow Characteristic of the Wells
Liquid Generates Back Pressure  Slugging
Design: Affects HL and dP/dL Prediction
Production: Affects Well Test Results
Proposed Physical Models
Liquid Film Movement Along the Wall of the Pipe
Liquid Droplet Entrainment on the High Velocity Gas Core
Comparison with Field Data

10. Literature Review … Coleman (1991) Parameters Affecting Liquid Loading
Liquids Gravity and Surface Tension
Water and Oil are Presented  Onset of Loading
Tubing ID
Pressure
Minor Influence
Temperature, Gas Gravity and Interfacial Tension
Wells that Exhibit Slugging Behavior May not Follow Liquid-Droplet Model  Different Transport Mechanism

11. Literature Review … Sarica, Shoham and Brill (1991)
Flow Behavior in Hilly Terrain Pipelines with Low Gas/Liquid  Gravity Dominated
Steady or Unsteady Flow
Transient Behavior
Pipe Geometry
Gas Compressibility
Rigorous Terrain Slugging Model

12. Literature Review … Meng (2001)
Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flow Tests for Inclination Angles of - 2, 0, + 2 in a 2 in. ID Pipe
Pressure Gradient is Much Higher Than Single Phase Case
Slightly Change in Inclination Angle Affects Liquid Holdup

13. Literature Review … Zhang and Sarica (2011)
Stratified Flow  Low Liquid Loading Gas/Liquid Flow in Horizontal and Slightly Downward Inclined Pipes

14. Literature Review … Zhang and Sarica (2011) Flow Patterns:
Smooth Interface
2D Waves
3D Waves
Roll Waves
Entrainment

15. Literature Review … Zhang, and Sarica (2011)
Upward Inclination
  HL
Qg < Qcritical
Transition from SS to SL flow
  dP/dL
Almost All Empirical Correlations are Inadequate for the Predictions of Low Liquid Loading Flow Behavior
Mechanistic Models Requires Improvement of Closure Relationships

16. Literature Review … Liang-Biao Ouyang (2000)
Influence of Influx on Single Phase and Multiphase Wellbore Flow
Experiments
100-ft (30.5 m)-Long Horizontal Wellbore
Axial Flow and Radial Influx
Different Wellbore IDs, Gravel Packs, Perforation Types and Densities
Pressure Drop Prediction

17. Literature Review …
Most of These Studies were Focused on Horizontal Pipes
Knowledge in Horizontal Wells Multiphase Flow is Limited
Complex Configurations (Undulations) have not been Investigated in Majority of Studies
Multiple Fluid Entry Locations have not been Considered

18. Study Plan Experimental
Design and Construct a Versatile Facility
Perform Testing Based on Prioritized Schedule
Model Development for Prediction Loading and Flow Conditions

19. Small Scale Facility Overall Cost ~ $50,000
Two Months of Construction Time
Facility will be Ready by Nov. 1st, 2012
Low Modification Effort
Quick Results
Preliminary Results can be Utilized for Large Scale Loop Design and Instrument Selection and Location
Some Artificial Lift Methods can also be Tested
Needs to Be Identified

20. Small Scale Facility … C8 40’ ( 240D ) 2 ’’ C7 C3 C2 C1 C6 2 ’’ C5 C4
PT1 2 1 C5 C4
2 ’’
DP2
DP1
TTW
Water Tank
Control
Valve
CVW
Coriolis
Meter
MMW
Quick Closing Valve
Camera
2 ’’
Submergible
Pump 1
No Intrusive Capacitance Sensor

21. Experimental Range … C8 40’ ( 240D ) 2 ’’ C7 C3 C2 C1 C6 2 ’’ C5 C4
PT1 2 1 C5 C4
2 ’’
DP2
DP1
TTW
Water Tank
Control
Valve
CVW
Coriolis
Meter
MMW
Quick Closing Valve
Camera
2 ’’
Submergible
Pump 1
No Intrusive Capacitance Sensor

22. Experimental Range …
Flow Pattern Map (= -1)

23. Experimental Range … C8 40’ ( 240D ) 2 ’’ C7 C3 C2 C1 C6 2 ’’ C5 C4
PT1 2 1 C5 C4
2 ’’
DP2
DP1
TTW
Water Tank
Control
Valve
CVW
Coriolis
Meter
MMW
Quick Closing Valve
Camera
2 ’’
Submergible
Pump 1
No Intrusive Capacitance Sensor

24. Experimental Range …
Flow Pattern Map (= 0)

25. Experimental Range … C8 40’ ( 240D ) 2 ’’ C7 C3 C2 C1 C6 2 ’’ C5 C4
PT1 2 1 C5 C4
2 ’’
DP2
DP1
TTW
Water Tank
Control
Valve
CVW
Coriolis
Meter
MMW
Quick Closing Valve
Camera
2 ’’
Submergible
Pump 1
No Intrusive Capacitance Sensor

26. Experimental Range …
Flow Pattern Map (= +1)

27. Testing Program Static Liquid Tests Dynamic Liquid Tests qLin=0
Liquid Volume, VL>0
Dynamic Liquid Tests
qLin>0

28. Static Tests

29. Static Tests

30. Static Tests

31. Superficial Gas Velocity
Static Tests
Gas
Superficial Gas Velocity

32. Static Tests
Gas

33. Static Tests …
Gas

34. Dynamic Tests
Water
Gas
VSW=0.003 m/s – 0.03 m/s
VSG=0.3 m/s –16 m/s

35. Dynamic Tests … Flow Pattern Pressure Drop Liquid Holdup
Determine Multiphase Flow Characteristics for Undulating Section
Flow Pattern
Pressure Drop
Liquid Holdup
Water Blockage Phenomena
Note: Dr. Sarica I have to check which would be the pressure at the inlet when vsg-51 m/s so maybe this value will change

36. Instrumentation
Clamp on Capacitance Sensor

37. Instrumentation … Quick Closing Valve System T2 PRESURRIZED VESSEL V2
AIR T1 P1
QCV V1
TEST SECTION
WATER

38. Instrumentation … Flow Pattern Observation
Flow Pattern Evaluation Videos in the Inlet, Undulating and Vertical Section by Utilizing Outdoor Surveillance Cameras
High Speed Camera Will
be Connected to the
Undulating Section

39. Instrumentation … Film Flow Direction Wall Shear Stress Sensor
Wall Shear Stress Measurement
Near Wall Flow Direction Indicator
Commercial Device for Direct Wall Shear Stress Measurement Lenterra RealShear™ F - Series

40. Near Future Tasks
Completion of Construction of the Facility (November 2012)
Testing Starting in November 2012

41. Thanks …

42. Questions